Dr. Jaxon Ray has bided his time.
He’s watched Amber St. George from afar, plotting and calculating the best way
to get her back, until he realised that the answer was simple…

Steal her mind so he can own her
body. Program her to forget then reprogram her as his perfect partner. The plan
is foolproof, promising everything he’s ever wanted once it’s executed. Money.
Prestige. Her.

Why? Because when you don’t know
that you’re missing, it’s not possible for you to be found. Especially when the
only person you think you can trust, is the one who’s left you with
medically-induced amnesia.

Both
sets of parents are waiting in the foyer of our house, apparently ready to
celebrate our return from our honeymoon. I lean into Jax, close enough so that
only he can hear my comment.

“Somebody’s
had her Stepford pills today.”

I
can feel his low laugh where it rumbles in his chest below my palm. It calms my
fears about returning home. During our flight, I was worried that the
connection between me and Jax would be lost. He seemed to grow more aloof the
closer we got to home. Tension that hadn’t been in his hard frame during our
three-week honeymoon became more noticeable by the minute. It diluted the
tenderness I felt for him after such an amazing honeymoon, which made me feel
guilty, so I’d spent the remainder of the flight trying to find ways to recapture
it with small talk and inane observations.

“Seems
someone’s missed hers,” Jax replies loud enough for our parents to hear. He
takes a step to the side, putting distance between us and causing me to stumble
from the unexpected loss of his body. I right myself, bright spots of
embarrassment making my face burn. “I have work to do. Amber, you should rest.
We have a battery of tests organised for you first thing tomorrow. It’s time to
see if you’re able to live up to your end of the bargain.”

Jax
strides out of the foyer in the direction of his office, my father and his
falling into step with him. Left alone with our mothers, I look between them to
see if they’re going to comment on how my husband just acted. They meet my
perusal with deliberate blankness, although my mother does seem to be more
nervous than usual.

I
give them my back, extending the handle of my biggest suitcase and tilting it
so it will roll behind me. I signal the maid to bring the rest of my bags with
her. Jax’s luggage can sit in the middle of the entry until the end of time, for
all I can. When I reach the curved staircase, I immediately regret my show of
defiance. There’s no way I’m going to be able to pull my bag up there.

“Maria.”
My mother snaps her fingers at the maid. “Bring some refreshments to the
lounge, then have their luggage taken to their room.”

She
sniffs when Maria takes too long to move. “Come now, Amber. Tell us about your
trip.”

I
follow, with reluctance in each step, sitting on the loveseat closest to the
window. It’s a beautiful day outside. Bright sunlight and barely a breath of
wind. It’s a day that I could spend with my husband, if he wasn’t a workaholic
who barely drew a breath before he dived straight back into his job.

“I
think you’re mistaken as to how things will run from now on.” Jax’s mother,
Elizabeth, speaks first. I run my gaze over her, taking in the perfectly
coiffed hair and her straight unnaturally posture with her hands tucked between
her knees. Looks like she had her Stepford pills today, as well. “My son is a
very busy man. It’s your job to make his life run as effortlessly as possible.
There will be no further allowances made for your delicate state.”

She
stands, pacing in front of me. I assume that her “delicate state” jibe is a
reference to my ongoing amnesia.

“You’ll
take over the running of this house. It is not my place to do so now that he’s
married. However, I am happy to provide some tips so that the transition is
smooth. The same goes for Jax’s social calendar. That will require close
attention so that your influence as the only St. George heir benefits my son
from the outset. Once you are with child, Cynthia and I,” Elizabeth indicates
my mother with her jutting chin. “will assist you so that you are able to
concentrate on your most important duty—providing as many heirs as possible.”

“So,
that’s what the tests are for tomorrow?” I slouch in my chair when they both
incline their heads in agreement. “Well, I guess I’d better rest then. Wouldn’t
want anything to get in the way of my ability to breed.”

“I
feel that you would benefit from a lie down.” My sarcasm goes straight over my
mother’s head. “It will improve your disposition.”

My
feet are in action, removing me from this conversation before I say something I
regret. I can’t take this farce, anymore. We’ve been home for less than an hour
and my life is already being dictated by the expectations of “society”.

Isn’t that one of the reasons you ran away in the first place?

My
stupid heel catches in the corner of the rug when that random though pops into
my head. I stumble, steadying myself with a hand on the back of the settee.
Balance regained, my shoulder clashes with the person currently entering the
room as I restart my hasty exit.

“My
apologies.” I give Seb a ghost-like smile as I pass.

He
takes hold of the top of my arm to slow me, a shopping bag dangling from that
same hand.

She's also wife to a
Harley-riding, boating and fishing, four-wheel driving, quintessential Aussie
bloke and mum to two crazy, adorable, and eccentric kids. A Crohn's Disease
sufferer and awareness campaigner, as well as an avid tea drinker, metal head,
and math nerd, Kylie is known for lacing everything she says with sarcasm and
inappropriate innuendo.

I have read one book thus far and the review
Always Too Late (Micalea Smeltzer) is part of A Love for Romance Anthology but also a novella for the Willow Creek series. Taylor and Gabe have been friends for years. She has been his secret...